GEORGE TOWN: A consumers group today urged the government to investigate claims that a popular Muslim mobile app has sold location data of its users to a third-party company which, in turn, was purportedly bought by the US military.
The app Muslim Pro is used by adherents to check prayer times, the Quran and other information related to Islam. It has been downloaded close to 100 million times.
Consumers Association of Kedah secretary Mohamad Yusrizal Yusoff said the Personal Data Protection Department (JPDP) should investigate the matter as the app was popular among Malaysians.
“There is unconfirmed news that this third-party company has sold the personal data of millions of users to foreign military forces.
“Regardless of whether this is true or not, JPDP should investigate as it is a violation of their personal data. Their probe should be expanded to other apps as well,” he said.
Vice News reported that Muslim Pro, among other apps, have sold their location data to a company which, in turn, made the data available to the US military.
Muslim Pro, a Singapore-based developer, rubbished claims it sold the personal information of its users to the US military, saying the reports were “incorrect and untrue”.
The Straits Times quoted Muslim Pro’s head of community Zahariah Jupary as saying the protection and respect of its users were of “utmost priority”.